Chapter 675: Another Negative Effect

"You're denying you're lusting after my body!" That thought immediately popped into Zu An's mind. However, with her controlling such a sensitive area, he was certain that if he dared to voice it, she might snap it off in a fit of shame and rage.

Yun Jianyue's breathing also quickened. Her mind went blank for a moment; she had no idea how to handle such a situation.

All sorts of thoughts flooded her mind. Despite her pounding heart, she had to maintain the composure of a Grandmaster. Forcing a cool expression, she said, "If I told you I didn't do it on purpose, would you believe me?"

"Of course I'd believe you!" Zu An replied, playing along. "But could you please take your hand away first? You're going to crush it."

Veins bulged on his forehead, and his expression was a little pained as he cautiously reminded her.

Compared to Qiu Honglei's gentle, water-like hand, this woman's hand was like an iron clamp. Even though his body was unusually tough, a Grandmaster's hand could smash stone like pressing tofu. He dared not bet on whether his body could withstand it.

Only then did Yun Jianyue snap back to reality. Her hand darted back like lightning, and she turned away. Her usually elegant and carefree face was tinged with an unnatural blush.

She took a deep breath, calming her turbulent emotions, and then feigned composure as she said, "Most of the seals in your body have been lifted by me. The small remaining portion was absorbed by the mysterious energy vortex within you. Hmph, it also absorbed some of my energy that I transmitted into you. If it weren't for Honglei's sake, I would have long since killed you with a single slap."

"Thank you, Cult Master," Zu An said with genuine gratitude. He hadn't completely fainted earlier and was well aware of how dangerous the process of her breaking the seals had been. Additionally, at the moment of crisis, the Gluttonous Sky Devouring Art within him had activated on its own, consuming some of her cultivation energy. He felt quite apologetic about it.

"The energy of an Earth Immortal and a Grandmaster will greatly benefit you if you refine it," Yun Jianyue paused, then reminded him, "But remember not to completely refine the Emperor's seal. You must leave at least an empty shell on the outside, so the Emperor doesn't realize your seal has been broken. I'll tell you the key points, and you cultivate according to them..."

Zu An was startled. "Sister is truly experienced and cautious. Otherwise, I might have rejoiced too soon and suffered a tragic fate."

Knowing the Emperor, if he discovered that the seals in Zu An's body were broken, he would undoubtedly devise even more sinister and cruel methods to deal with him.

"Old?" Yun Jianyue raised an eyebrow, clearly sensitive to the word. She huffed irritably. "Also, I don't know where you learned such an evil cultivation method that absorbs others' cultivation. Remember, either don't use it in the future, or if you do, eliminate anyone who knows about it. Otherwise, once word gets out, you'll become the public enemy of the world."

"Thank you for the reminder, Sister," Zu An replied. He naturally understood this principle. What practitioners valued most was, of course, their own cultivation. If there were someone who could absorb their cultivation at any time to strengthen themselves, everyone would feel threatened, and once they realized it, they would definitely band together to eliminate him.

Seeing his serious demeanor, Yun Jianyue nodded, realizing she didn't need to elaborate further. Then she remembered something else. "Are you connected to the Holy Cult?"

Zu An froze, not understanding why she suddenly asked this. "Uh, does my relationship with Honglei count?"

He had originally wanted to say his relationship with her counted, but considering the safety of his 'little Zu An,' he abandoned that suicidal thought.

Yun Jianyue was speechless.

"I'm asking if you've ever cultivated the Holy Cult's *Heavenly Demon Bewitching Sound*, or if any of your elders were members of the Holy Cult?"

She recalled that just as the Emperor's seals almost overwhelmed her, a force of the same origin suddenly emerged from his body. The quality of that power was so high that even she was astonished, and she was naturally curious about what it was.

Zu An shook his head. "I haven't practiced it. I'm already handsome and charming enough. Simply standing here is the most potent aphrodisiac for women. I don't need to practice your alluring arts."

Yun Jianyue was speechless.

This fellow was still as annoying as ever.

She thought about it and concluded that it was highly unlikely this guy had practiced the *Heavenly Demon Bewitching Sound*. Historically, only women practiced it, and it was a closely guarded secret of the Holy Cult's direct lineage; how could it be divulged to outsiders? More importantly, one had to remain a virgin to practice it, and this guy... Hmph, who knew how many times he had lost his virginity.

As she pondered, an inexplicable tremor suddenly ran through her soul, followed by a warm current spreading throughout her body. She instinctively pressed her legs together.

"What's wrong?" Zu An noticed her unusual behavior and quickly asked.

"Nothing!" Yun Jianyue, however, bounded several meters to the side in an instant like a startled rabbit, as if terrified of him approaching.

Zu An looked utterly bewildered. "What's with that 'warding off a wolf' expression? If anything, I'm the one at a disadvantage here. Given the cultivation gap between us, I can't do anything to her. If anything, she's the one who could do something to me, and I'd be powerless to resist."

"Sigh, if it unfortunately comes to that, I only have one request: be gentle..."

Yun Jianyue's face alternated between red and white, as if she were engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

After a while, she shakily straightened up. "You can refine it yourself. I'm leaving now."

She vanished from the room in a flash, but the next second, she paused at the doorway. "I don't want a third person to know about what happened today. If I hear even a whisper of gossip, I will kill you."

Without waiting for Zu An's reply, she pushed off with her toes and completely disappeared.

Zu An looked puzzled in the direction she had vanished. Why was her voice so strange just now, not its usual cold and distant tone? Instead, it carried a slight tremor, like a cat in heat, to the point where her threatening words held no actual menace...

*Cough, cough*. How could that be? That old virgin has high cultivation and an unwavering resolve; how could she be in the state I'm imagining? She must have been injured while helping to lift the seals and has gone back to meditate.

So, he gathered his thoughts and began refining the two powerful streams of energy within his body.

Meanwhile, shortly after Yun Jianyue left Zu An's room, her legs suddenly gave way. She quickly grabbed hold of a nearby railing to steady herself.

Hearing a soft moan escape her lips, a hint of confusion flashed in Yun Jianyue's eyes. "How can this be? My *Heavenly Demon Bewitching Sound* has clearly reached mastery, so why am I afflicted by Karmic Fire again?"

This cultivation method was incredibly powerful, but it also came with various side effects.

Besides needing to remain a virgin before achieving mastery, there was another, more shameful secret she couldn't tell Zu An: when cultivating this method to its middle and late stages, inner demons would arise. At such times, she would be plagued by Karmic Fire, and for a few days each month, she would be completely engulfed by surging desires, compelled to seek out a man to resolve them.

If she managed to endure it, her cultivation would become purer; if not, years of effort would be entirely wasted.

The various side effects of this cultivation method seemed almost designed to prevent successful mastery. Throughout the Holy Cult's history, there was no shortage of exceptionally talented disciples, but only a handful ever managed to successfully cultivate it.

This was also why she had insisted on breaking up Zu An and Qiu Honglei.

Perhaps her obedient disciple could still control herself now, but that was because her cultivation level hadn't reached a certain point. Once she entered the later period of Karmic Fire affliction, having a mutually loving partner by her side would exponentially increase the difficulty of enduring those few days each month.

Over the years, Yun Jianyue had managed to cultivate this method to perfection through her astonishing talent and great perseverance, finally escaping the state of Karmic Fire affliction. So why was it reappearing now?

Even with her unyielding will, she began to panic slightly, not just remembering the terror of being dominated by this feeling in her youth, but also fearing the unknown.

If she still couldn't escape this negative state after cultivating to her current level, then what was the point of practicing this method?

However, she could no longer afford to think about such things. She rushed back to her private chamber in the backyard, which also had a connection to a natural spring, designed as an indoor bathroom for her daily bathing and changing.

She sped back to her room, released a surge of energy to seal the doors and windows, and then shed her robes, revealing a body as pristine and beautiful as moonlight. Her long, waterfall-like hair fell loosely over her back, the contrast of white and black creating a powerful visual impact. More critically, her entire being now exuded an invisible allure, enough to incite the most primal urges in any man in the world.

She knew this was the result of her inability to control her alluring arts, which were now overflowing. She quickly leaped into the cold pool, submerging herself. Before long, the previously icy water began to boil.